Invasion of the brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) into the USA: developing a national response to an invasive species crisis through collaborative research and outreach efforts

Authors: Ludwick, Dalton; Morrison, William - Rob; ACEBES-DORIA, ANGELITA - University Of Georgia; AGNELLO, ARTHUR - Cornell University; BERGH, J. CHRISTOPHER - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University; Buffington, Matthew; HAMILTON, GEORGE - Rutgers University; HARPER, JAYSON - Pennsylvania State University; Hoelmer, Kim; KRAWCZYK, GREGORY - Pennsylvania State University; KUHAR, THOMAS - Virginia Tech; PFEIFFER, DOUGLAS - Virginia Tech; NIELSEN, ANNE - Rutgers University; RICE, KEVIN - University Of Missouri; RODRIGUEZ-SAONA, CESAR - Rutgers University; SHEARER, PETER - California Polytechnic State University; SHREWSBURY, PAULA - University Of Maryland; TALAMAS, ELIJAH - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services; WALGENBACH, JAMES - North Carolina State University; WIMAN, NIK - Oregon State University; Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Journal of Integrated Pest Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/7/2020
Publication Date: 3/11/2020
Citation: Ludwick, D.C., Morrison III, W.R., Acebes-Doria, A.L., Agnello, A.M., Bergh, J., Buffington, M.L., Hamilton, G.C., Harper, J.K., Hoelmer, K.A., Krawczyk, G., Kuhar, T.P., Pfeiffer, D.G., Nielsen, A.L., Rice, K.B., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Shearer, P.W., Shrewsbury, P.M., Talamas, E.J., Walgenbach, J.F., Wiman, N.G., Leskey, T.C. 2020. Invasion of the brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) into the USA: developing a national response to an invasive species crisis through collaborative research and outreach efforts. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 11(1):1-16. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaa001.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaa001

Interpretive Summary: Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has emerged as one of the most serious invasive pests of specialty and row crops, and is a serious nuisance pest for homeowners and businesses. To fulfill the void in knowledge surrounding management of this invasive insect following the major outbreak in the mid-Atlantic in 2010, a team of researchers, industry professionals, and grower stakeholders first identified priorities for research, Extension, regulatory, and consumer issues. These priorities then guided research and Extension programs across the country. Early efforts centered on developing short-term management solutions for affected growers and more information on the biology, ecology, and behavior of BMSB, with longer range efforts focused on landscape level biological control. Because of this cohesive and stakeholder-driven effort, over 22,000 stakeholder contacts were made and growers were able to quickly learn to manage this insect effectively, and ultimately begin to use more sustainable approaches. Additionally, we highlight the main lessons learned from coordinating the national response to the threat posed by BMSB to agriculture in the USA.

Technical Abstract: Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), is a globally invasive stink bug species. Its first major outbreak was in the USA, where it has caused millions of dollars in damage, threatened livelihoods of specialty and row crop growers, and become an extreme nuisance pest. The BMSB IPM Working Group, funded by the Northeastern IPM Center, was central to providing a mechanism to form a multi-disciplinary team and developing initial and subsequent research, Extension, regulatory and consumer priorities. Ultimately, a project team consisting of over 50 scientists from 11 institutions in 10 states obtained the largest ever USDA NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative CAP grant, totaling over $10.7 million, to tackle this crisis over a five-year period (2011-2016). Researchers and Extension educators integrated stakeholder feedback throughout the course of the project, and priorities evolved according to the needs of affected growers and the public. Initially, the team focused on identification of H. halys, its damage symptoms and crop-specific risk, and short-term mitigation strategies for crop protection. Later, more work on its biology, ecology and behavior led to the development of potential longer-term IPM tactics and landscape level management solutions, including biological control. This work continues under a second SCRI CAP grant (2016-2021). The information from the team reached an estimated 22,000 specialty crop stakeholder contacts via Extension efforts and over 600 million people via mainstream media. We highlight the main lessons learned from coordinating a national response to the threat posed by H. halys to agriculture in the USA.